John Akre, Teaching Artist
I teach animation and video classes for youth and others. I have 20 years experience working with youth in school and after-school settings and teaching technical skills to adults, as well as teaching in a University.
Here are some of the stop motion videos I made at my job at the Kentucky Science Center.
Older Teens
Wellstone International High School.
Enter The Dream Exchange.
Find out about Transitions Animated, a project that combines stop motion animation and history.
Check out the animated gifs we made at IFP's Juice Media after school program.
We Are the Movement is a project I assisted with through Intermedia Arts.
Elementary Schools
Creativity Fest and CreativeCon 2020
West Suburban Summer School 2019
Riverside Central Elementary in Rochester, MN 2019
Nokomis Montessori South, St. Paul 2019
Nokomis Montessori North, St. Paul 2018
Hillcrest Community School 2017
Animating the Impossible Machine at Creativity Festival 2017.
Here are animated shorts from a two week residency I did with Kindergarteners at Hillcrest Community School in Bloomington in December 2016.
Here are animated shorts from a three week residency I did at Talahi Community School in St. Cloud in the winter of 2016.
Here are animated shorts from a residency I did at Norman County East Elementary School in March 2015.
Middle School and Summer Camps
Film North Stop Motion Animation Camp 2022
Film North Stop Motion Animation Camps 2021
Film North Stop Motion Animation Camps 2020
Film North Photoshop/Animate Animation Camp 2019
Film North Stop Motion Animation Camp 2019
Film North Photoshop/Animate Animation Camp 2018
Film North Stop Motion Animation Camp 2018
Here are videos from the IFP MN Photoshop/Animate Animation Camp I ran in August 2017.
Here are videos from the IFP MN Stop Motion Animation Camp I ran in June 2017.
With COMPAS at the Mini Maker Faire 2017.
Here are videos from the IFP MN Photoshop/Flash Animation Camp I ran in August 2016.
Here are videos from the IFP MN Stop Motion Animation Camp I ran in July 2016.
Here are videos from the Photoshop/Flash Animation Camp I ran at IFP MN in August 2015.
Here are animated shorts from a residency I did at White Bear Lake Central Summer School in the summer of 2015.
Here are videos from the Stop Motion Animation Camp I ran at IFP MN in June 2015.
Jump into Writing is an animated poem that was created in three workshop I gave at the Youth Authors Conference in 2015.
Watch videos from the Short Cuts Camp and Animation Camp I ran at IFP MN the summer of 2014.
See what we did at Camp Art in Hallock, MN the summer of 2013.
Here's a look at what my students did at the IFP-MN Animation Camp 2013
Here's a look at what my students did at the Intermedia Arts Animation Camp 2013
Here's a look at what my students did at the IFP-MN Short Cuts Video Camp 2013
Check out some Flipbooks and Cycles created at Heritage Library.
I also really love being part of the Twin Cities Youth Media Network.
Adults
Here are animated videos made with students at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design
I teach Animating with Adobe Creative Cloud at FilmNorth.
Take a look at videos made by adults in the program I co-teach with Beth Peloff at Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Center.
Here are some other examples of animation work I have done with youth:
INDY Animation Nov. 17, 2014 from John Akre on Vimeo.
Free First Saturdays at the Walker Art Center
Stop motion installation at the Twin Cities Youth Media Network Media Market
Stop Motion Animation from the Jovenes in the GRIP Program from John Akre on Vimeo.
Stop Motion Animation from the Jovenes in the GRIP Program - a project with Teatro del Pueblo
MIA My Story from John Akre on Vimeo.
At the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
TCYMN Showcase Animation from John Akre on Vimeo.
Twin Cities Youth Media Network Showcase and Screening.